The author of The Witcher novels, Andrzej Sapkowski, has demanded more royalties from developer CD Projekt Red.
The developer released a regulatory report to investors detailing the situation. In it, CD Projekt Red states that it has received an an official demand for further payment from Sapkowski, who says he expects a pay out “beyond what had been contractually agreed upon between himself and the Company.”
Sapkowski now wishes to receive at least 6% of CD Projekt Red profits made off of The Witcher. Those representing the author say they are “prepared to settle the matter in an amicable – and more importantly – expeditious and quiet manner,” provided CD Projekt Red acknowledges Sapkowski’s request within 14 days and meets with him no later than 19 October.
“I was stupid enough to sell [CD Projekt RED the] rights to the whole bunch,” he said. “They offered me a percentage of their profits. I said, ‘No, there will be no profit at all – give me all my money right now! The whole amount.’ It was stupid. I was stupid enough to leave everything in their hands because I didn’t believe in their success. But who could foresee their success? I couldn’t.”
As a result, CD Projekt Red says Sapkowski’s request is “groundless” and that the studio has “legitimately and legally acquired copyright to Mr. Andrzej Sapkowski’s work.”
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the latest main title in CD Projekt Red’s Witcher world, sold over six million copies in its first six weeks. Last year, it was confirmed that The Witcher series collectively has sold more than 25 million units.
CD Projekt Red isn’t done with The Witcher either — a Gwent card game is currently available and a second tie-in project, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales will be available in the coming months.
Cyberpunk 2077 is CD Projekt Red’s next big project, a game based off of Mike Pondsmith’s 1988 tabletop game, Cyberpunk 2020. Let’s home Pondsmith was a more savvy in negotiations than Sapkoswki, eh?
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